Questions from al-Jazirah, Arabic on line paper in Saudi Arabia
1- What is the opinion of the EU regarding the current Iraqi government that is affiliated to the Iranian regime? Are you in favour of the clerical regime's policy?
We in Europe are in favour of the establishment of a pluralist government in Iraq, which represents all ethnicities and religions in Iraq. Unfortunately, due to the continual meddling of the Iranian regime in Iraq and the policy of appeasement and inaction undertaken by the West, developments in Iraq have led to a state where there's no trace of an independent government in the country. Sunnis, who are a principal part of the society's fabric have been marginalized and suppressed; Iraq's sovereignty has been seized by people who are totally tied to the Iranian regime. They do not believe in freedom or a nationalist or inclusive government. They don't even know what it means to run a country. Economic and financial corruption has peaked. Poverty and unemployment has reached unprecedented levels. These are all due to the fact that Iraq is ruled by a minority that has ties with the Iranian regime and not by an inclusive government. I served for years as the head of the European Parliament’s delegation for relations with Iraq and I followed the developments in Iraq from up close. I warned on many occasions about the deteriorating situation in Iraq, especially about the meddling and interference of the Iranian regime.
Regarding the Iranian regime's policy, I must say that this is a medieval regime and since Khomeini came to power in 1979, it has been able to maintain its hold on power and the civilized people of Iran through the two levers of internal suppression and exporting crises and meddling in neighbouring countries throughout the region. In order to preserve its power, this regime suppresses its own people in Iran and in order to control the crises resulting from this suppression, it resorts to exporting crises and terrorism beyond its borders and meddling in the affairs of the region. Therefore, without these two levers, this regime would collapse without a doubt. The footprints of this regime are evident in all the crises that are affecting the Middle East, spanning across Iraq, Syria, Yemen, Lebanon and other countries.
I believe that the end to all of the crises in the Middle East, including in Syria, Yemen, Iraq and the issue of ISIS and others have one true solution and that is the overthrow of the Iranian regime.
2- What is the extent of freedom in Iraq after the incursion of Iranian-backed militias inside Iraq?
Iran’s logic in dealing with various issues always involves resorting to force and violence, meaning everywhere, including inside Iran and other countries like Iraq, they resort to force, supplying weapons, and exporting murder, brutality and plunder. Islamic fundamentalism, with the Iranian regime as its flagbearer and symbol, is responsible for this. Therefore, it is quite natural in a country where religious militias have a key role in the government there will be no such thing as true freedom. What you are witnessing today in Iraq proves this beyond any doubt. True Iraqi patriots, whether Sunni or Shi’ite, are quickly silenced; even the Iraqi judiciary remains a tool in the hands of the former Iraqi prime minister Nouri al-Maliki, known as the number one murderer of the Iraqi people.
3- What do you think about the role of US intervention in Iraq, in spreading chaos, and current developments?
The U.S. made a strategic mistake in occupying Iraq. And unfortunately, compounding that mistake, during Obama’s tenure we witnessed the premature and hasty U.S. military withdrawal of Iraq, making the situation even worse. This allowed Iran to interfere and pursue its own policies. Coinciding with and following the invasion of Iraq, the West in general, and the U.S. in particular, adopted a policy of engagement with Iran, allowing Tehran to increase its meddling in Iraq. During Obama’s 8 years this appeasement policy increased to an unprecedented climax, with the U.S. President placing this strategy at the centre of his foreign policy, all at the cost of endless bloodshed suffered by the people of Iraq and Syria. We have witnessed the result of this erroneous policy, which has plunged the entire Middle East into crisis, with constant murder and killings, such as the vivid examples seen daily in Iraq and Syria.
4- Does Iran's nuclear program still constitute a danger, following their threat to relaunch uranium enrichment? Does the European Parliament approve Iran’s nuclear program?
Iran's nuclear program was only ever aimed to boost the mullahs’ hegemony in the region and can have no outcome other than the complete destruction and annihilation of the Middle East and of Iran itself. Therefore, no-one with any sense anywhere in the world, agrees, or ever agreed, with Iran’s nuclear program. Indeed this program, in any phase, will always be considered as a serious global security threat. Therefore, the entire program and all its contributing infrastructure must be brought to an end for the sake of a safer world.
Following revelations made by the Iranian opposition and under international pressure, the Iranian regime was forced to withdraw from its nuclear ambitions, making the mullahs severely weaker, despite the fact that during the nuclear talks the West provided unjustified concessions to this regime. On the other hand, Tehran imagined by signing the nuclear agreement that the doors of the world would open to its markets. However, this was far from the truth. The regime failed in this regard and the JCPOA is now under serious criticism from the incoming U.S. administration. The 10-year extension of the Iran sanctions by the U.S. Congress is the first step taken in this new era. Therefore, various regime officials, under orders issued by Khamenei, have begun voicing hollow threats, none being taken seriously.
5- How do you evaluate the efforts and strength of the Iranian opposition, and its future role?
I am very familiar with the Iranian democratic opposition under the leadership of Mrs Maryam Rajavi. The National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) and its main force, the PMOI ( Mojahedin Khalq) have played an unprecedented role in revealing the Iranian regime’s true nature and its aggressive plans. This is the result of the depth of this movement’s social base and the expansion of its reach amongst the Iranian people. The Iranian opposition unveiled the mullahs’ clandestine nuclear weapons program for the world back in 2002 and indeed it was this same Iranian opposition that has continued to reveal the theocratic fascist regime’s nuclear and missile plots. It was also the self-same Iranian opposition that was able to unveil for the world Khomeini’s reactionary, repressive, warmongering and expansionist strategy. It has been the Iranian opposition that has currently transformed the justice campaign of 30,000 executed political prisoners in 1988 into a serious human rights issue for Iran on the world stage.
I would like to say that any regional and international coalition against Iran’s meddling in the region will have a defining and effective role only if it includes an Iranian element, namely the Iranian opposition. The fall of the Iranian regime will be impossible without the participation of the Iranian opposition. In other words, any neglect of the Iranian opposition, or failing to comprehend its true position in any stance against the Iranian regime will only support the mullahs and will allow them to further their domestic oppression and international terrorism.
